Public protector 'back on the Oilgate case'

Public protector Thuli Madonsela is reviewing the Oilgate saga, the New Age reported on Monday.

“We are back on the case, although we haven’t fully reopened the investigation,” Madonsela told the daily newspaper.

“We decided on a review process.”

The M&G broke the scandal, the high point of which was the 2005 revelation that politically connected businessman Sandi Majali had diverted R11-million belonging to state-owned oil company PetroSA to the African National Congress.

Then-Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana rubbished the M&G‘s stories in a report, saying: “Much of what has been published by the Mail & Guardian was factually incorrect, based on incomplete information and documentation and comprised unsubstantiated suggestions and unjustified speculation.”

The M&G took it on review under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, both to seek vindication of its investigative work and to hold the protector accountable to the public.

Judge Ntsikelelo Poswa of the North Gauteng High Court found in the M&G’s favour two years ago, setting the report aside and ordering that the Public Protector reinvestigate the scandal. - Sapa and Staff reporter